Absences Disrupt Al Ahly Before Palmeiras Clash… Zizo Starts for the First Time
Al Ahly faces Palmeiras with key absences, most notably Imam Ashour, hoping to secure a victory that will give them a significant technical and financial boost in the 2025 Club World Cup.
Al Ahly will face a decisive match this Thursday evening against Brazilian team Palmeiras, as part of the second round of the group stage in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. The match will take place at MetLife Stadium in the United States at 7:00 PM Cairo time.
Significant Absences in Al Ahly’s Squad
Al Ahly enters the match with several important absences, most notably the injury of player Imam Ashour, who underwent emergency surgery on his clavicle bone, ending his participation in the tournament after the severe injury he suffered during the match against Inter Miami. Also absent is Ahmed Nabil “Koka” due to a serious knee contusion, along with Taher Mohamed Taher, who suffered an injury to the origin of the quadriceps muscle.
Given these absences, it is expected that Ahmed Mostafa “Zizo” will get his first start for Al Ahly. The coaching staff, led by coach José Ribeiro, is counting on him to deliver the expected contribution.
Team’s Standing in the Tournament
Al Ahly began its campaign in the tournament with a goalless draw against Inter Miami from the USA, which is the same result as Palmeiras’ match against Porto from Portugal. This makes today’s match decisive in shaping the competition for qualification spots to the round of 16.
Huge Financial Incentives Await Al Ahly
Winning today’s match is doubly important, not only on the sporting level but financially as well. Al Ahly will secure a financial reward of $2 million from FIFA if they win, compared to $1 million for a draw.
The team receives $9.55 million for official participation in the tournament, plus $1 million for the draw against Inter Miami. Winning any match in the group stage earns a $2 million bonus.
Qualification to the round of 16 grants the team $7.5 million, while qualifying for the quarterfinals earns $13.1 million, which doubles to $21 million for the semifinals. If reaching the final, both teams receive $30 million, with the champion receiving a prize of $40 million.
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